Ladies, You're Sewing It All Wrong

"Singer Sewing - Pink Thread" oil on panel, (11" x 14") 2015

A friend, knowing that I love to paint various images of the vintage Singer sewing machine which  I found in our basement, sent me this section of a brochure which came with the 1949 Singer Machine. It is pointed directly at the homemaker of post-WWII era. I wonder how many women took this advice seriously and never sewed in a bad mood or with crooked lipstick or heaven forbid, in a messy house.

Sometimes I do my best paintings when I'm not wearing lipstick. In fact when I did the painting above two weeks ago, I probably left the house without doing all my urgent household chores. Does it show in the artwork?

"Singer Sewing Rear" oil on panel, (8" x 10") 2015

"Singer Sewing w/Green Thread" oil on panel, (11" x 14") 2015

SEWING in the RAIN

"Singer Sewing Orange" 2014,  oil on board (12" x 18")

In May 2014, we came home from a week-long show only to find that nine inches of rainwater had been marinating in the basement for six days. Our neighbors and friends immediately swung into action to help us with their equipment and labor. That act of generosity was one of several gifts resulting from the cellar's swampy circumstances. Sometimes catastrophe results in solutions for your life. We did finally clear out the basement!  Our chaotic misfortune also revealed a hidden gem after the fetid waters subsided. 

"Singer Sewing Machine Turquoise" 2014, oil on board (9" x 12")

 Among the injured and ruined objects was an item I had long been wanting to paint but its sheer weight kept me from making the purchase at flea markets. Then, there in the dankness was an odd shaped piece of luggage. When I pried open the mushy case an antique, black singer sewing machine lay within its contents. I was overjoyed at the sight and set it aside. Months later I cleaned it so that it could model for me in the studio. More paintings are underway.